Should You Forget Bitcoin and Buy MARA Holdings Instead?

Core Viewpoint - The recent decline in Bitcoin's price has led to a significant drop in MARA Holdings' stock, prompting investors to consider whether to invest in MARA instead of Bitcoin due to its current lower valuation [1][2]. Group 1: Bitcoin Market Overview - Bitcoin peaked at $124,774 on October 7, 2025, but has since fallen 31% to $86,413 as of December 16, 2025 [1]. - The market capitalization of Bitcoin is currently $1.7 trillion, with a trading volume of $50 billion [14]. Group 2: MARA Holdings Performance - MARA Holdings has seen a 53% decline in stock price since mid-October, with a current price of $9.93 and a market cap of $3.8 billion [2]. - The stock has a gross margin of -2663.89%, indicating significant financial challenges [2]. Group 3: Company Evolution and Strategy - MARA Holdings, originally known as Marathon Patent Group, transitioned to a cryptocurrency mining specialist in early 2021, investing $150 million in Bitcoin and mining equipment [3]. - The company has shifted its business model to include selling electric energy and data center space, capitalizing on the AI boom while still maintaining its Bitcoin mining operations [12][14]. Group 4: Mining Operations and Economic Factors - The correlation between MARA's stock and Bitcoin's price has weakened since spring 2024, with MARA's production of Bitcoin decreasing from 28.8 per day in March 2024 to 24.5 per day 18 months later [9]. - Despite a 37% increase in quarterly crypto-mining revenue due to rising Bitcoin prices, the cost of production surged by 82% [9][11]. Group 5: Competitive Landscape - MARA is entering a competitive market for AI computing, facing challenges from larger companies and other former Bitcoin mining specialists [15]. - The company is still primarily focused on Bitcoin-related activities, and its future success may depend on balancing its operations between AI and Bitcoin mining [14][17].